“Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.”
— Matthew 7:1 – 2 (NLT)
Stop forming negative opinions about other people. Then people won’t form negative opinions about you. Whatever standard you use to compare people will be the same standard others use to judge you.
It’s almost instinctive to form opinions about others: their clothing and hair, the way they walk. Judging is a pride issue. We judge someone as inferior so we can feel superior. Everything we observe gives us a chance to judge — or show mercy. If you’re kind in your judgments of others, it’s like wearing pink-tinted sunglasses that color everything rosy. Judging harshly is using a magnifying glass to focus on someone’s faults to make them even bigger.
If you have a judging habit, catch yourself when you form a negative opinion about someone else’s looks or actions. Then replace it with something positive, out loud, if possible. The more consistently you replace judgmental thoughts with positive ones, the quicker you’ll break the habit.
No one likes to be judged. Choose to form positive opinions about people. Then watch how they’ll look at you through rose-colored glasses.
More to Explore: James 4:11 – 12 and Luke 6:37
Girl Talk: Do you have a habit of judging others? Would you rather be looked at under a microscope or through rose-colored glasses?
God Talk: “God, I am so thankful that you are a merciful judge. Help me to see the positive in others as you see the positive in me. Thank you. Amen.”
From No Boys Allowed by Kristi Holl